School Counseling, MS

The Master of Science in School Counseling is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Program requirements meet or exceed the national standards. The program is experiential and emphasizes a theory-to-practice learning environment. State-of-the-art technology used for clinical supervision maximizes learning and provides opportunities to enhance faculty-student interaction. In addition to the 60-credit hour course of study, the department also offers a 12-credit hour certificate program aligned with the state requirements for Licensed Mental Health Counselor. The program has partnerships with a local nonprofit organization to assist grieving children and a local PK-12 urban school. The counselor education faculty is committed to respecting diversity and similarity within ourselves, our graduate students, and the PK-12 students our graduates are being prepared to serve. We encourage, promote, and respect diversity in the counselor education curriculum and in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes expected of our graduate students and alumni.

The program complies with all CACREP national standards, including the eight core areas: 1) Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice, 2) Social and Cultural Diversity, 3) Human Growth and Development, 4) Career Development, 5) Helping Relationships, 6) Group Work, 7) Assessment, and 8) Research and Program Evaluation. Student learning outcomes cover knowledge, skills, and practices in the following areas: foundations of the counseling profession; counseling, prevention, and intervention; diversity and advocacy; assessment, research, and evaluation; academic development; collaboration and consultation; and leadership.

School Counseling Student Learning Outcomes

• Articulate the professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers
• Define theories of learning and personality development, individual and family development, and transitions across the life span
• Identify career, vocational, educational, occupational, and labor market information resources as well as other electronic career information systems
• Demonstrate ability to provide individual and group counseling for those students experiencing personal or social problems that interfere with learning, along with prevention programs
• Demonstrate ability to address multicultural counseling issues, including possible effects of ability levels, culture, race, stereotyping, family, socioeconomic status, and gender and sexual identity